Longtime Texas Horseman Jim Middleton Passes Away

Posted by Press Release on 10/02/2020

PRAIRIE HILL, TX—SEPTEMBER 30, 2020—Funeral services are set Friday at 10:30 a.m. (family only due to COVID) for longtime Texas horseman James Dudley "Jim" Middleton. 

Jim passed away peacefully in his home in Prairie Hill, Texas on Monday (September 28) .

Viewing will be Thursday (Oct. 1) from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Bellmead Funeral Home in Waco. There will be a Celebration of Life at 2:00 pm at the Prairie Hill Community Center in Prairie Hill, Texas (near Coolidge). 

JD was born on December 21, 1935 in Mart, Texas. He graduated from Mart High School in 1954 and went on to join the Third Battalion of the Marine Corp. 

Jim was a long-time Texas breeder and trainer. He bred, trained and raced horses for over 40 years throughout the Texas and Oklahoma race tracks from the mid-1970’s through 2014. 

He trained the futurity winning mare Star Roula (Bar Roula) in 1985 and was the successful owner-trainer of the First Edition colt, Hot Edition in 1983. 

He successfully campaigned the gelding Henrys Cash Day to wins at every distance from 350 yards to 1000 yards. JD was also a PRCA Steer Wrestler and won the Texas Circuit Finals in 1975. 

Jim spent several years traveling throughout the United States rodeoing with his closest friends whom he later raced with across the Texas tracks. 

His true love was breeding, training and racing horses. He was known throughout as a superb horseman. . . not just a trainer. 

Jim is survived by his wife Betty of Waco, Texas, his daughter Kelly Middleton Shumake and her husband Phillip of Grandview, Texas, his daughter Tracy Bray of Red Rock, Texas and son Barry Hall. 

In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Categories: Obituaries , The News

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